Avast! Emergency Update

On 2/21/2014 7:33 PM, Char Jackson wrote:
On Fri, 21 Feb 2014 18:41:28 -0600, BillW50 wrote:

Out of 30+ machines here, snip

30+ machines, you say? I should make a note of that because you so rarely
mention it.

Have you ever been diagnosed with SPS? You show signs...

No, the real problem is some here can't recall what happened 5 minutes ago.

--
Bill
Gateway M465e ('06 era) - Thunderbird v24.3.0
Centrino Core2 Duo T7400 2.16 GHz - 4GB - Windows 8 Pro w/Media Center

On 2/22/2014 11:12 AM, Stan Brown wrote:
On Fri, 21 Feb 2014 19:23:55 -0700, Buffalo wrote:

I have my free Avast Program Update set to "Ask when an update is
available" and WinPatrol alerted me when Avast tried to do the Emergency
Update bit.
However, I do have my Virus Definitions set to automatic update.

I have definitions set to automatic update (streaming), and program
set to manual update.

Avast changed the tray icon to indicate a alert, but did not perform
the update. When I open the Avast user interface, it says a new
program version is available but doesn't indicate any particular
urgency.

P.S. I have intentionally set "Program Updates" to MANUAL...
which is supposed to tell avast neither to check for program
updates nor to automatically install them. I find it ironic
that so called "emergency updates" --- in this case, merely a
"migratory preparation" --- can defy this setting.

Topic: Emergency Update 2013-11-21?
http://forum.avast.com/index.php?top...992#msg1064992

--
Bill
Gateway M465e ('06 era) - Thunderbird v24.3.0
Centrino Core2 Duo T7400 2.16 GHz - 4GB - Windows 8 Pro w/Media Center

BillW50 wrote:
On 2/21/2014 8:23 PM, Buffalo wrote:
Try using WinPatrol (free version) and it will notify you when Avast
tries the Emergency bit and you can just deny it.
I have my free Avast Program Update set to "Ask when an update is
available" and WinPatrol alerted me when Avast tried to do the Emergency
Update bit.
However, I do have my Virus Definitions set to automatic update.

Thanks Buffalo. I currently have AvastEmUpdate.exe blocked from ever
running. So I should be good for now.


Where did you find AvastEmUpdate.exe? It doesn't seem to be on my
computer and I'm using Avast!.

--
Blue

On 2/22/2014 6:25 AM, J. P. Gilliver (John) wrote:
I was wondering why 30+; are you in the maintenance or retail business
or something?

Yes.

I often think I've got too many computers (meaning Windows
PCs) here, but only four are in anything like frequent use, and I don't
think the total even including possibly non-working ones would reach 15.

The vast majority of mine are still fully operational.

--
Bill
Gateway M465e ('06 era) - Thunderbird v24.3.0
Centrino Core2 Duo T7400 2.16 GHz - 4GB - Windows 8 Pro w/Media Center

On 2/22/2014 11:44 AM, Blue wrote:
BillW50 wrote:
On 2/21/2014 8:23 PM, Buffalo wrote:
Try using WinPatrol (free version) and it will notify you when Avast
tries the Emergency bit and you can just deny it.
I have my free Avast Program Update set to "Ask when an update is
available" and WinPatrol alerted me when Avast tried to do the Emergency
Update bit.
However, I do have my Virus Definitions set to automatic update.

Thanks Buffalo. I currently have AvastEmUpdate.exe blocked from ever
running. So I should be good for now.

Where did you find AvastEmUpdate.exe? It doesn't seem to be on my
computer and I'm using Avast!.

Well I got suspicious of v9, so I uninstalled it and downloaded and
installed the last version of v7 from oldapps and that file wanted to
run at startup (so I blocked it). Later versions they could have changed
the filename.

No, I just checked on another machine that has Avast v2014.9.0.2011 and
it is there too. Mine is right in the "Program Files\Avast" folder.

--
Bill
Gateway M465e ('06 era) - Thunderbird v24.3.0
Centrino Core2 Duo T7400 2.16 GHz - 4GB - Windows 8 Pro w/Media Center

BillW50 wrote:
On 2/22/2014 11:44 AM, Blue wrote:
BillW50 wrote:
On 2/21/2014 8:23 PM, Buffalo wrote:
Try using WinPatrol (free version) and it will notify you when Avast
tries the Emergency bit and you can just deny it.
I have my free Avast Program Update set to "Ask when an update is
available" and WinPatrol alerted me when Avast tried to do the
Emergency
Update bit.
However, I do have my Virus Definitions set to automatic update.

Thanks Buffalo. I currently have AvastEmUpdate.exe blocked from ever
running. So I should be good for now.

Where did you find AvastEmUpdate.exe? It doesn't seem to be on my
computer and I'm using Avast!.

Well I got suspicious of v9, so I uninstalled it and downloaded and
installed the last version of v7 from oldapps and that file wanted to
run at startup (so I blocked it). Later versions they could have changed
the filename.

No, I just checked on another machine that has Avast v2014.9.0.2011 and
it is there too. Mine is right in the "Program Files\Avast" folder.


It's there where you say it is but Win 7's search couldn't find it. It
hasn't caused me any problems so far nor has it updated without my input.

--
Blue

On 2/22/2014 12:50 PM, Blue wrote:
BillW50 wrote:
On 2/22/2014 11:44 AM, Blue wrote:
BillW50 wrote:
On 2/21/2014 8:23 PM, Buffalo wrote:
Try using WinPatrol (free version) and it will notify you when Avast
tries the Emergency bit and you can just deny it.
I have my free Avast Program Update set to "Ask when an update is
available" and WinPatrol alerted me when Avast tried to do the
Emergency
Update bit.
However, I do have my Virus Definitions set to automatic update.

Thanks Buffalo. I currently have AvastEmUpdate.exe blocked from ever
running. So I should be good for now.

Where did you find AvastEmUpdate.exe? It doesn't seem to be on my
computer and I'm using Avast!.

Well I got suspicious of v9, so I uninstalled it and downloaded and
installed the last version of v7 from oldapps and that file wanted to
run at startup (so I blocked it). Later versions they could have changed
the filename.

No, I just checked on another machine that has Avast v2014.9.0.2011 and
it is there too. Mine is right in the "Program Files\Avast" folder.

It's there where you say it is but Win 7's search couldn't find it. It
hasn't caused me any problems so far nor has it updated without my input.

If you find a folder in there named emupdate, I am pretty sure it did it
without your knowledge. And the number of exe files in there is how many
times it had done so. That folder shouldn't exist if it never did an
emergency update yet.

Yes Windows 7 search doesn't find a lot of things. Windows 8 isn't too
bad, but I hear Windows 8.1 search is awful. At least Agent Ransack
works really well for searches. Have you heard of it?

--
Bill
Gateway M465e ('06 era) - Thunderbird v24.3.0
Centrino Core2 Duo T7400 2.16 GHz - 4GB - Windows 8 Pro w/Media Center

BillW50 wrote:
On 2/22/2014 12:50 PM, Blue wrote:
BillW50 wrote:
On 2/22/2014 11:44 AM, Blue wrote:
BillW50 wrote:
On 2/21/2014 8:23 PM, Buffalo wrote:
Try using WinPatrol (free version) and it will notify you when Avast
tries the Emergency bit and you can just deny it.
I have my free Avast Program Update set to "Ask when an update is
available" and WinPatrol alerted me when Avast tried to do the
Emergency
Update bit.
However, I do have my Virus Definitions set to automatic update.

Thanks Buffalo. I currently have AvastEmUpdate.exe blocked from ever
running. So I should be good for now.

Where did you find AvastEmUpdate.exe? It doesn't seem to be on my
computer and I'm using Avast!.

Well I got suspicious of v9, so I uninstalled it and downloaded and
installed the last version of v7 from oldapps and that file wanted to
run at startup (so I blocked it). Later versions they could have changed
the filename.

No, I just checked on another machine that has Avast v2014.9.0.2011 and
it is there too. Mine is right in the "Program Files\Avast" folder.

It's there where you say it is but Win 7's search couldn't find it. It
hasn't caused me any problems so far nor has it updated without my input.

If you find a folder in there named emupdate, I am pretty sure it did it
without your knowledge. And the number of exe files in there is how many
times it had done so. That folder shouldn't exist if it never did an
emergency update yet.

Well, no folder, just an .exe that has a shield on it.


Yes Windows 7 search doesn't find a lot of things. Windows 8 isn't too
bad, but I hear Windows 8.1 search is awful. At least Agent Ransack
works really well for searches. Have you heard of it?


It usually suits my needs.

--
Blue

On 2/22/2014 2:31 PM, Blue wrote:
BillW50 wrote:
On 2/22/2014 12:50 PM, Blue wrote:
BillW50 wrote:
On 2/22/2014 11:44 AM, Blue wrote:
BillW50 wrote:
On 2/21/2014 8:23 PM, Buffalo wrote:
Try using WinPatrol (free version) and it will notify you when Avast
tries the Emergency bit and you can just deny it.
I have my free Avast Program Update set to "Ask when an update is
available" and WinPatrol alerted me when Avast tried to do the
Emergency
Update bit.
However, I do have my Virus Definitions set to automatic update.

Thanks Buffalo. I currently have AvastEmUpdate.exe blocked from ever
running. So I should be good for now.

Where did you find AvastEmUpdate.exe? It doesn't seem to be on my
computer and I'm using Avast!.

Well I got suspicious of v9, so I uninstalled it and downloaded and
installed the last version of v7 from oldapps and that file wanted to
run at startup (so I blocked it). Later versions they could have
changed
the filename.

No, I just checked on another machine that has Avast v2014.9.0.2011 and
it is there too. Mine is right in the "Program Files\Avast" folder.

It's there where you say it is but Win 7's search couldn't find it. It
hasn't caused me any problems so far nor has it updated without my
input.

If you find a folder in there named emupdate, I am pretty sure it did it
without your knowledge. And the number of exe files in there is how many
times it had done so. That folder shouldn't exist if it never did an
emergency update yet.

Well, no folder, just an .exe that has a shield on it.

Then it looks you are ok. It looks like only a small percentage of
users, this thing trips, activates and automatically updates your Avast
program to the latest version regardless of your settings. I have a
hunch, this might also install Chrome without your knowledge too.

--
Bill
Gateway M465e ('06 era) - Thunderbird v24.3.0
Centrino Core2 Duo T7400 2.16 GHz - 4GB - Windows 8 Pro w/Media Center

On 2/22/2014 8:36 AM, John wrote:
On Fri, 21 Feb 2014 17:26:50 -0600, BillW50 wrote:

Wow! I have seen it automatically update the program (when it was
toggled off) on like two of my 30+ computers (so far it is pretty rare).
It must have been done in the background and it doesn't tell you
anything. Only rebooting did I see it was already downloaded and then
installed during boot.

I don't like it when it updates the program (sometimes without your
knowledge) and you walk away when booting or rebooting and then that
window pops up asking if you want Google Toolbar and Google Chrome
installed. If you are not there, of course you are not going to click
anything. You would think you are still safe until you get back. But no,
if you are not there it times out in something like 5 minutes and
automatically assumes it is ok. Then it installs that crap.

And there is exactly why no one should ever allow anything to
automagically update. Not even trusted 'ware like Windows which comes
from a reputable company who would never do deals with The G'Evil
G'Empire.
Which makes life rather more difficult for we who "support"
relatives' machinery as we can't teach them how to *manually* update,
either.
Or, to be more precise, we can teach them, every time we see them but
it only lives in their brains until we go out the door then they never
consider it again.
They do love clicking on things and downloading ask.com toolbars,
though.

No, Avast uses the AvastEmUpdate.exe file that *can* update
automatically regardless of the user settings. Worse, it does so in the
background without your knowledge. And I am leaning on the belief, it
also installs Google Chrome without your permission.

You can tell if Avast ever did this without your knowledge by looking
for an emupdate folder. If you have one and have multiple exe in there,
that is how many automatic updates it did without your permission.

--
Bill
Gateway M465e ('06 era) - Thunderbird v24.3.0
Centrino Core2 Duo T7400 2.16 GHz - 4GB - Windows 8 Pro w/Media Center

On 2/22/2014 7:32 AM, Ann Watson wrote:
On 21/02/2014 4:32 PM, dadiOH wrote:

I just know that avast! updayed itself to the latest
program version a month or so ago despite the fact that ALL updates
are set
to manual.

I wrote to avast!, this was their reply on 12/27/2013...

"There must have been a server issue which has resulted in forcing the
avast! software upgrade on your machine.

It of course shouldn't be happening at all and we are sorry for the
inconvenience caused.

It is enough to keep program updates on manual so that avast! wouldn't
update itself (Settings Update PROGRAM Settings Manual update)"

Yeah, right..."server issue". Anybody want to buy a bridge?

I have never had Avast auto update itself; have always been notified
that an update is available.

How would you know, since it does so secretly? You can tell if Avast
ever did this without your knowledge by looking for an emupdate folder.
If you have one and have multiple exe in there, that is how many
automatic updates it did without your permission.

--
Bill
Gateway M465e ('06 era) - Thunderbird v24.3.0
Centrino Core2 Duo T7400 2.16 GHz - 4GB - Windows 8 Pro w/Media Center

Blue has written on 2/22/2014 3:31 PM:
BillW50 wrote:
On 2/22/2014 12:50 PM, Blue wrote:
BillW50 wrote:
On 2/22/2014 11:44 AM, Blue wrote:
BillW50 wrote:
On 2/21/2014 8:23 PM, Buffalo wrote:
Try using WinPatrol (free version) and it will notify you when Avast
tries the Emergency bit and you can just deny it.
I have my free Avast Program Update set to "Ask when an update is
available" and WinPatrol alerted me when Avast tried to do the
Emergency
Update bit.
However, I do have my Virus Definitions set to automatic update.

Thanks Buffalo. I currently have AvastEmUpdate.exe blocked from ever
running. So I should be good for now.

Where did you find AvastEmUpdate.exe? It doesn't seem to be on my
computer and I'm using Avast!.

Well I got suspicious of v9, so I uninstalled it and downloaded and
installed the last version of v7 from oldapps and that file wanted to
run at startup (so I blocked it). Later versions they could have changed
the filename.

No, I just checked on another machine that has Avast v2014.9.0.2011 and
it is there too. Mine is right in the "Program Files\Avast" folder.

It's there where you say it is but Win 7's search couldn't find it. It
hasn't caused me any problems so far nor has it updated without my input.

If you find a folder in there named emupdate, I am pretty sure it did it
without your knowledge. And the number of exe files in there is how many
times it had done so. That folder shouldn't exist if it never did an
emergency update yet.

Well, no folder, just an .exe that has a shield on it.

Look in Avast Software\Setup for the emupdate folder.

On 22 Feb 2014, BillW50 wrote in
alt.windows7.general:

Then it looks you are ok. It looks like only a small percentage of
users, this thing trips, activates and automatically updates your
Avast program to the latest version regardless of your settings. I
have a hunch, this might also install Chrome without your
knowledge too.

I have more than a hunch that it does NOT. I've been using Avast for
years and I've never had Chrome installed, with or without my
knowledge.

On 2/22/2014 4:05 PM, The Other Guy wrote:
On Sat, 22 Feb 2014 15:17:32 -0600, BillW50 wrote:

No, Avast uses the AvastEmUpdate.exe file that *can* update
automatically regardless of the user settings. Worse, it does so in the
background without your knowledge. And I am leaning on the belief, it
also installs Google Chrome without your permission.

I have Avast.

I have updates set to auto for definitions, and ask for program,
and that IS what happens.

And NO Chrome here, at all, EVER.

Of course! That is what people are saying. The auto emergency update
bypasses your settings and updates anyway and does it secretly in the
background. So how would you know if it did or not? And it appears it
trips for a small percentage of Avast users each time. Say does Google
pay Avast for Chrome installs? Could this be a steady income for Avast?

--
Bill
Gateway M465e ('06 era) - Thunderbird v24.3.0
Centrino Core2 Duo T7400 2.16 GHz - 4GB - Windows 8 Pro w/Media Center

On 2/22/2014 4:10 PM, Nil wrote:
On 22 Feb 2014, BillW50 wrote in
alt.windows7.general:

Then it looks you are ok. It looks like only a small percentage of
users, this thing trips, activates and automatically updates your
Avast program to the latest version regardless of your settings. I
have a hunch, this might also install Chrome without your
knowledge too.

I have more than a hunch that it does NOT. I've been using Avast for
years and I've never had Chrome installed, with or without my
knowledge.

Oh course, I have 30+ machines and I only know two that has done this.
You need a few more dozens of machines before you might see it.

--
Bill
Gateway M465e ('06 era) - Thunderbird v24.3.0
Centrino Core2 Duo T7400 2.16 GHz - 4GB - Windows 8 Pro w/Media Center